Begonia plant named ‘Doublet White’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Doublet White’, characterized by its somewhat upright, rounded, uniform, and compact plant habit; small dark greenish bronze leaves; freely branching, dense and bushy growth habit; continuous and very freely flowering habit; showy, fully double white-colored flowers that are displayed above and beyond the foliage; and tolerance to pathogens common to Begonias.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia,botanically known as Begonia semperflorens, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Doublet White’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Poland. The objective of the breeding program is tocreate new Begonia varieties having compact plant habit and numerousfully-double flowers.

The new Begonia originated from a cross made by the Inventor in 1990 inPoland of a proprietary Begonia seedling selection identified as BD2 asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Begonia seedlingselection identified as BA5 as the male, or pollen, parent. The newBegonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inPoland in 1996. The selection of this plant was based on its compactplant habit and numerous double flowers. These characteristicsdifferentiate the new Begonia from its parent selections.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Poland, has shown that the unique features ofthis new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Begonia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength, light intensity, nutritionaland water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Doublet White’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Doublet White’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Somewhat upright, rounded, uniform, and compact plant habit.

2. Small dark greenish bronze leaves.

3. Freely branching, dense and bushy growth habit.

4. Continuous and very freely flowering habit.

5. Showy, fully double white-colored flowers that are displayed aboveand beyond the foliage.

6. Tolerant to pathogens common to Begonias.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Begonia. This photograph shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describethe actual colors of the new Begonia. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical plant of ‘Doublet White’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Lompoc,Calif., during the spring under conditions which approximate commercialproduction practices. After the cuttings were rooted, plants wereplanted in 10-cm containers and grown for about 10 weeks with daytemperatures ranging from 21 to 24° C., night temperatures ranging from16 to 18° C., and light levels ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Begonia semperflorens cultivar Doublet White.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Proprietary Begonia semperflorens seedlingselection identified as BD2, not patented.

Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Begonia semperflorens seedlingselection identified as BA5, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 10 days at 21° C. Winter: About 12days at 21° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 28 days at 21° C. Winter: About 28days at 21° C.

Rooting habit.—Numerous, fibrous, well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.—Compact; somewhat upright, rounded, uniformplant habit; dense and bushy growth habit. Flowers are fully double andabundant; flowering continuous. Moderately vigorous.

Crop time.—To produce a 10-cm container flowering plant, about 6 to 8weeks are required after planting a rooted cutting. To produce a 15-cmor larger container flowering plant, about 8 to 10 weeks are requiredafter planting a rooted cutting.

Appropriate containers.—One plant is typically planted in 10 to 15-cmcontainers. Multiple plants are typically planted in containers largerthan 15-cm.

Branching habit.—Very freely and self-branching with about ten lateralbranches per plant.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 17.5 cm.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter at base: About7 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.—Alternate, single; densely foliated, about 5 to 10 or moreleaves per lateral branch.

Length.—About 5 cm.

Width.—About 5.5 cm.

Shape.—Reniform.

Apex.—Acute.

Base.—Cordate, not equilateral.

Margin.—Slightly serrate with fine ciliation.

Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, waxy and shiny.

Venation pattern.—Palmate.

Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: 147A to 147B with dark purple,183B, cast. Young foliage, lower surface: 147A to 147B with dark purple,183B, cast. Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A with dark purple, 183D,cast; venation, 146A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147A with darkpurple, 183D, cast; venation, 146B.

Petiole.—Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: 146D withslight red purple, 184D, cast.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Fully double flowers with numerous tepals, flowersarranged in axillary cymes. Flowers above and beyond the foliage.Extremely freely flowering with usually about 25 flowers and flower budsper lateral branch and typically more than 100 flowers per plant. Manycymes in flower simultaneously. Flowering continuous. Flowersself-cleaning. Not fragrant.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower year round under greenhouseconditions.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about 10 to 12 days on the plantdepending on temperature.

Flowers.—Aspect: Mostly outwardly facing. Shape: Rounded; rose-like.Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.

Flower bud (just before opening).—Rate of opening: From full color tofully open, about 10 days are required depending on temperature. Length:About 5 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Oblong. Color: White, 155C,with light green, 157D, cast.

Tepals.—Arrangement/quantity: Fully double flower form; numerous whorlsof tepals arrange in a rosette; at least 75 tepals per flower. Length:About 7 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening, uppersurface: 155C. When opening, lower surface: 155C. Fully opened, uppersurface: 155C. Fully opened, lower surface: 155C.

Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 45°from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color: Base, green, 146B, with purple,185C, cast.

Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: 60B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None observed.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have been noted to betolerant to pathogens common to Begonias.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘DoubletWhite’, as illustrated and described.